Landscape context influences efficacy of protected areas and agri-environment scheme delivery for breeding waders

Protected areas (PAs) and agri-environment schemes (AESs) are the main policy mechanisms for addressing terrestrial biodiversity loss in Europe. Landscape context can moderate their efficacy but has not been studied for both mechanisms concurrently. Both mechanisms are widely used to address ongoing declines of waders breeding on lowland wet grassland. Using a repeat, nationwide (England) survey we investigate the role of PA status (nature reserves and a statutory designation), AES (bespoke and general options), surrounding landcover (up to 1500 m), soil properties and range position (core versus periphery) on field-level breeding occupancy and abundance change of four declining waders between 2009/10 and 2020/21. Field occupancy of Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, Common Redshank Tringa totanus and Common Snipe Gallingo gallinago was associated with PA status, being highest in reserves. Abundance change was more positive on fields in reserves than in unprotected or designa..., , , # Landscape context influences efficacy of protected areas and agri-environment scheme delivery for breeding waders

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.7wm37pw49](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.7wm37pw49)

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Robert W. Hawkes, 1*; Lucy R. Mason, 1; Greg J. Conway, 2; Gavin M. Siriwardena, 2; Philip V. Grice, 3; Andrew J. Cole, 4; & Will J. Peach, 1

*Corresponding author ([[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail]))

1\. RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2DL, UK.

2\. BTO, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2PU, UK

3\. Natural England, Chief Scientist Directorate, Peterborough, PE2 8YY, UK

4\. Natural England, Chief Scientist Directorate, Kendal, LA9 7RL, UK

\* Corresponding author

## Description of the data and file structure

### Files and variables

#### 1. Meta data for the occupancy ana...,